The Indian Embassy in the UAE has announced the permanent closure of four passport service centers, effective October 22. This move impacts numerous Indian nationals in the region, who are now directed to new locations for passport collection.
Changes for Passport Collection
Applicants whose passports were pending collection at the Dubai Investment Park (DIP) center in Dubai or the Al Majaz center in Sharjah must now retrieve them from the UW Mall in Bur Dubai. Similarly, those awaiting passports from the Musaffah and Al Reem centers in Abu Dhabi are instructed to proceed to the Al Danah Centre in Abu Dhabi.
This advisory, issued by Alhind, the temporary outsourced service provider for the Indian missions, clarifies the new collection points. Applicants who opted for courier delivery will receive their documents as usual, while those who chose in-person collection must visit these designated centers.
End of Interim Arrangements and Future of Services
The closures mark the end of an interim arrangement that had allowed passport collection at three of these centers even after their initial cessation of submission services. The latest notice confirms all four centers are now fully closed.
The broader context for these changes is a comprehensive review by Indian missions in the UAE regarding the provision of consular, passport, and visa services. A new Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued on September 28, inviting bids for a fresh contract to manage these essential services. This follows a court-ordered reset of the previous tender process for the Indian Consular Application Centres (ICACs), currently operated by Alhind.
The contract for the new service provider is anticipated to be awarded on November 27. Applicants are advised to monitor official announcements from the Indian Embassy and Consulate for any further updates regarding service center operations and passport collection arrangements.